Facing the Lion

“In the United States, mountain lions are the animal regarded as the number one human

predator.

“Author and naturalist Craig Childs was on foot doing research on the lions in Arizona’s

Blue Range Wilderness. As he approached a water hole from downwind, he spotted a

mountain lion drinking water. When it finished drinking, it walked slowly away into a

cluster of junipers.

“After a few minutes, Childs walked to the water hole to identify tracks in the mud and

record notes. Just before he bent down to look closer, he scanned the perimeter, and there

among the shadows of the junipers, 30 feet away, he saw a pair of eyes. The lion walked

into the sunlight toward him. Childs pulled his knife and stared into the eyes of the lion.

He knew what he must do. He also knew what he must not do. He wrote:

“Mountain lions are known to take down animals six, seven, and eight times their size.

Their method: attack from behind, clamp onto the spine at the base of the prey’s skull,

snap the spine. The top few vertebrae are the target, housing respiratory and motor skills

that cease instantly when the cord is cut ... Mountain lions have stalked people for miles

... killing them from behind ...

“I hold firm to my ground and do not even hint that I will back off ... The mountain lion

begins to move to my left, and I turn, keeping my face on it, my knife at my right side. It

paces to my right, trying to get around on my other side, to get behind me. I turn right,

staring at it ... My stare is about the only defense I have.

“Childs maintained that defense as the mountain lion continued to try to provoke him to

run, turning left, then right, back and forth again and again, getting as close as ten feet

from him. Finally, the standoff ends. The lion turns and walks away — defeated by a man

who knew what to do in its presence.”

I heard Dr. David Jeremiah quote this well known naturalist the other day in connection with the spiritual armor God has given us, as described in Eph. 6. What a vivid reminder of the position we are to take with the armor God has given us as we go to war against satan. In Eph. 6 Paul repeatedly urges us to "stand." "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." (Eph.6:11) "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." (6:13) "Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth..." (6:14) God calls us to stand and face our enemy. He does not command to rush out blindly against our adversary. He does not tell us to march resolutely forward and onward. And He does not tell us to turn around and run away as fast as we can or to slink away in fear and trembling. No, He commands us here "to stand" and "to stand firm."

As with the mountain lion, we are called to be watchful and be ready and to stand firm, facing forward. Our shield does us no good if we are fleeing away from the enemy. Our sword is useless in a pell mell retreat. Our breastplate cannot protect us from behind. But if, in the day of struggle and strain and stress, we refuse the temptation to give in and give out and instead stand firm in Him and in His power, God's weaponry will strengthen and protect us.

I don't know about you, but, sadly, my tendency is to run away when the fires of difficulty and disappointment start to burn in my life. Don't we all want to run away to something? Run to food; run to shopping; run to a pity party; run to alcohol; run to busyness and accomplishment. But God does not call us to run away but to stand firm. To face the enemy in the power of God's might and fully rely upon Him to strengthen and deliver us. To stand firm and not to wallow in discouragement and negative thoughts of defeat and despair.

Dr. Jeremiah writes that "If we don't stand our ground, we are giving that ground to the enemy. Every time we compromise our spiritual standards or fail to walk in righteousness, we are giving ground to the enemy. We are allowing him to have a bit more influence in our life than before. Our task is not to defeat him--Christ already defeated him at the empty tomb. Our task is to stand firm against his attempts to destroy our credibility or God's credibility in our sight. Anything he can do to weaken or destroy our influence for Christ, he will do. But our perseverance--if we are standing firm in the armor of God--is guaranteed."

Satan is a roaring lion--he is that stalking, vicious mountain lion--who seeks to destroy and devour believers and their faith and their testimony. (I Peter 5:8) But when we refuse to give in to fear and discouragement and fleeting emotions and instead stand firm in God's Word, satan will flee-- "Resist him, firm in your faith..." (I Pet. 5:9)

Lord, help us to stand firm in You and in Your powerful Word! Help us to stop giving in and running away to all those sorry substitutes that might bring us momentary relief but that always always always disappoint and ultimately destroy. Thank You that You are the Lion of Judah and that You will always always always conquer in the end! In Your victorious Name, we stand! And to You be the glory!